Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan qualify for Super 4 after rain forces abandonment

Pakistan became the first team to qualify for the Super 4 stage of Asia Cup 2023. The former champions made it to the next round after their big-ticket Group A game against India was abandoned due to rain after the first innings in Pallekele on Saturday, September 2.

Pakistan qualified for the Super 4 stage with 3 points from 2 games. Babar Azam's men began their campaign on August 30 by hammering Nepal by 238 runs.

Pakistan have impressed in their two outings in Asia Cup 2023. After flexing their all-round firepower against Asia Cup debutants Nepal, Pakistan were impressive with the ball against India.

The Super 4 stage will start from September 6 and Pakistan will travel Lahore for their first Super 4 match. The group stage will end on September 5.

India will next face Nepal in an almost must-win match on Monday, September 4 in



Pallekele.

Pakistan managed to restrict India to 266 in 48.5 overs, becoming the first team to bowl an opposition out after all the 10 wickets were taken by pacers in the Asia Cup.

Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan as he picked up 4 wickets for just 35 runs. Shaheen broke the back of the Indian batting order by removing captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in a fiery first spell.

He then returned to take the big wicket of Hardik Pandya in the end overs, denying the India vice-captain a hundred. Hardik hit 87 off 90 balls in a fine rearguard effort.

Naseem Shah, meanwhile, shone with 3 wickets while Haris Rauf got the big wickets of Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill.

Pakistan would have loved an opportunity to have a go at the target against India but the rain gods had other ideas.